HAYS, Kan. – After Fort Hays State knocked off nationally ranked Washburn earlier in the season in Topeka, the Tigers looked ready to do the same with a dominating first set win Saturday (Oct. 10). However, the great start lost steam quickly in the second set as the 12
th-ranked Ichabods went on to win three straight sets.
The Tigers (11-9, 3-5 MIAA) were beaming with confidence in a 25-14 first set win, tearing the cover off the ball with a .394 hitting percentage.
Crystal Whitten and
Sydney Dixon each had four kills in the set. However, the Tigers lost that confidence after Washburn jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second set and never regained it the rest of the match. The Ichabods (18-2, 6-2 MIAA) won the final three sets 25-17, 25-17, 25-19.
Mallory Flagor led the Tigers in kills with 16, hitting .282 in the match.
Crystal Whitten produced a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs.
Rebekah Spainhour also reached double figures in kills with 10.
Hannah Wagy had 45 assists and
Kailey Klibbe had 17 digs.
Korie Thompson led Washburn in kills with 15, while Leanna Willer added 14. Liz Powell had 41 assists and 11 digs for a double-double, and Alyssa Carney racked up 19 digs.
The Tigers hit the road next week to take on nationally ranked Central Oklahoma and then Pittsburg State.
